One of the things I love most about the International Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. You can watch some of your favorite bands perform on stage in EPCOT – for free! Well, with the price of admission to Epcot. Here’s the 2023 Eat to Beat Concert Series schedule plus what you need to know about the Eat to the Beat concerts like seating questions and more!
2023 Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup
The first thing I do when the Eat to the Beat Concert Series schedule comes out is run to check to see if Boyz II Men are on the schedule. I have been watching them perform at Epcot for years. The nice thing about the Epcot Food & Wine Festival extending dates is that there are more opportunities to see your favorite performers.
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from July 27 through November 18, 2023
Here is a list of the performers in the Eat to the Beat Concert Series in 2023!
- July 28-29 – Orianthi (NEW)
- July 30-31 – FOR KING + COUNTRY (NEW)
- Aug. 4-5 – Southern Avenue
- Aug. 6-7 – Tiffany
- Aug. 11-12 – Ruben Studdard with Haley Reinhart
- Aug. 13-14 – The Bacon Brothers (NEW)
- Aug. 18-21 – Joey Fatone & Friends
- Aug. 25-26 – Ayron Jones (NEW)
- Aug. 27-28 – Phillip Phillips (NEW)
- Sept. 1-2 – Baha Men
- Sept. 3-4 – MercyMe
- Sept. 8-9 – Ray Parker Jr.
- Sept. 10-11 – TobyMac
- Sept. 12-14 – Hooligans
- Sept. 15 – Monsieur Periné
- Sept. 16-17 – Raul Acosta & Oro Solido
- Sept. 18 – Bacilos – NEW!
- Sept. 19-21 -Audio Exchange
- Sept. 22-23 – Los Amigos Invisibles
- Sept. 24-25 – 98 °
- Sept. 27 and 28 – Latin Ambition
- Sept. 29 – Oct. 2 – Boyz II Men
- Oct. 3-5 – Wish Radio
- Oct. 6-7 – Mark Wills
- Oct. 8-9 – Sugar Ray
- Oct. 10-12 – Icon Party Band
- Oct. 13-14 – Hoobastank
- Oct. 15-16 – Air Supply
- Oct. 17-19 – Evolution Motown
- Oct. 20-21 – Taylor Dayne
- Oct. 22-23 – Billy Ocean
- Oct. 24-26 – Sound Up
- Oct. 27-30 – Hanson
- Oct. 31-Nov. 2 – Rexine
- Nov. 3-4 – We The Kings (NEW)
- Nov. 5-6 – Sheila E.
- Nov. 7-9 – Epic Live
- Nov. 10-11 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
- Nov. 12-13 – 38 Special
What Time are the Eat to the Beat Concerts in EPCOT?
Eat to the Beat concerts are daily at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m, and 8:00 p.m. Shows last approximately 30 minutes.
- Location: America Gardens Theatre – American Adventure Pavilion
- Dates: Fridays through Mondays from July 27 to November 18, 2023
- Showtimes: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM
To enter Epcot, you’ll need a theme park reservation and valid theme park admission. There are no additional fees to watch the concerts once you’re inside the park.
How to Get Good Seats for Eat to the Beat Concerts
Seating is first come, first served, unless you have purchased an Eat to the Beat Dining Package. For some popular acts, the lines can get long, so if you don’t line up early enough, then you may not make it into your desired show. The fandoms are real, and some people are devoted enough to line up hours ahead of a show for a good seat. But that is the exception.
Basically you have two options for good seats for Eat to the Beat Concerts -wait in line or buy a dining package.
For Joey Fatone & Friends this year, I heard Lance Bass was coming, so obviously for a potential NSYNC reunion, I was going to wait in line. I wanted the 8:00 show, because the vibe is always better at night. I got in line at 6:00, they let the 6:45 show in and I remained in line for the 8:00 show. It was worth it to sit in the aisle by the catwalk.
Is the Eat to the Beat Dining Package Worth It?
If you don’t like to wait in line and like to eat table-service meals, then yes, the Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are worth it. It goes back to the saying, time is money.
If you don’t mind standing in line in the heat, and none of the Eat to the Beat dining package restaurants interest you, then it isn’t worth the money.
Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are expensive. For adults, they range from $47 to $95 per person! The restaurants included in the Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are:
- Akershus Royal Banquet
- Biergarten Restaurant
- Coral Reef Restaurant
- Garden Grill Restaurant
- Le Cellier Steakhouse
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse (same-day only reservations)
- Rose and Crown Dining Room
- Spice Road Table
Some restaurants are a better value than others. For example, Garden Grill Breakfast is normally $42 per adult. The dining package is $53 per adult. That’s only an $11 up charge for seats at the Eat to the Beat Concert series.
Make sure you specifically buy an Eat to the Beat dining package. You cannot just book that restaurant without the package and expect seats to the concerts.
What Time Should You Get in Line for Eat to the Beat Shows at Epcot?
I would say get to the America Gardens Theater at least an hour early if you want a good seat for the Eat to the Beat concerts. If you are joining the standby line, it is to the right of the stage (if you’re looking at it). If you don’t make the cutoff for one of the earlier shows, you can remain in line for the next show.
For very popular acts like Boyz II Men, guests start lining up hours in advance. I definitely recommend an Eat to the Beat Dining Package for that concert.
In my experience, they start letting guests sit down about 15-25 minutes before a show starts.
The Eat to the Beat Dining Package entrance is to the left of the stage. The reserved section of seating is on the left side of the stage. I would arrive at least 30 minutes early for dining package seating if you want better seats. If it’s a super popular show, then earlier.
I went to many Eat to the Beat concerts last year. For Tiffany, I was able to walk up about 15-20 minutes before the concert and still sit in the front rows on the right.
For Joey Fatone & Friends 2022, my friends and I arrived around 25 minutes before the 6:45 show started and we got in an aisle many rows back but still had a good view because of the aisle in the middle. There are some trees that do block your view.
I prefer the 8:00 shows, especially in early summer, because it gets dark by then, and the stage lights come on. The energy is just different at night. Plus it’s not as hot.
Remember if you so wait in line, keep yourself hydrated. Many people come in and out of line to get drinks or food while they wait.
Don’t forget to dance and have fun!
If you have kids with you and need some help passing the time while you stand in line, try the Remy’s Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt.